Switch mounting means having pivotally mounted switch-retaining spring means



A ril 4, 1967 s. E. MANECKE INVENTOR.

SIEGFRIED E. MANECKE Mfm HIS ATTORNEYS .proceeds with reference to thePatented Apr. 4, 1967 assignor to Robert- Richrnond, Va, a corpora- Thisinvention relates to an improved switch mounting means as well as toimproved parts for such a mounting means or the like.

It is well known that electrical switch constructions and the like areadapted to be detachably and effectively mounted to mounting bracketsthat are permanently secured to a supporting structure so that theelectrical switch constructions can 'be readily removed and replacedfrom the mounting brackets without removing the mounting brackets fromits substantially permanent installation.

Accordingly, one feature of this invention is to provide an improvedswitch mounting member wherein the switch construction can be readilyand simply detachably secured thereto in such a manner that the switchconstruction is effectively held from movement relative to the mountingmember while still being adapted to be simply removed therefrom whendesired.

In particular, this invention provides a mounting memher havingpivotally mounted spring means so constructed and arranged that thespring means are adapted to snapfit the electrical switch constructionto the mounting member in a simple and effective manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcombination of an electrical switch construction and a mounting member,the combination having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mountingmem'ber for such a combination or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which accompanying drawings forming a partthereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of one embodiment of the improved mountingmember of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the mounting member illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the mounting member illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates how the springmeans of the mounting member are utilized to detachably secure a switchconstruction thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a rear perspective view of the mounted switch constructionillustrated in FIGURE 5.

' FIGURE 7 is a front perspective view of the mounted switchconstruction illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates still anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the mountingmember of the embodiment of FIG- of the mounting member URE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a front perspective view of the mounted switch constructionillustrated in FIGURE 10.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adapted to mount an electricalswitch construction or the like, it is to be understood that variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to provide means for mounting other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the improved combination of anelectrical switch construction and the mounting bracket of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 andcomprises a mounting member 21 detachably holding an electrical switchconstruction 22 thereto whereby the mounting member 21 is adapted to besecured in a substantially permanent manner to the desired supportingstructure so that the electrical switch construction 22 can 'bedetachably secured to the supporting structure by the mounting member21.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, the mounting member 21 comprises asubstantially flat plate 23 having a rear surface 24 and a front surface25, the plate 23 having a central aperture 26 passing therethrough andbeing defined by a rearwardly extending flange 27.

In this manner, the rear face of the electrical switch construction 22can be disposed against the front side 25 of the mounting member 21 andbe detachably secured thereto in a manner hereinafter described, theelectrical switch construction 22 being of conventional form and havingan actuating plunger or the like extending from the rear side thereof tobe actuated by any means projecting through the aperture 26 of themounting member 21.

For example, the flange means 27 of the mounting member 21 caneffectively house a snap-action thermostatic member 28 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 10 to actuate the plunger of the electrical switchconstruction 22. Alternately, the aperture 26 and the mounting member 21can be effectively closed by a closure member 29 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 6. If desired, the flange 27 of the mountingmember 21 can be utilized to effectively secure a diastat means 36 tothe mounting member 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 9 wherebythe diastat means 30 will actuate the plunger of the electrical switchconstruction 22 under the desired conditions.

Thus, it can be seen that the particular switch actuating means for theelectrical switch construction 22 can take many forms and can hereaspectively coupled thereto by the mounting means 21 of thisinvention.

However, it is to be understood that the actuating means for theelectrical switch construction 22 can comprise any other desiredactuating means whether the same is carried by the mounting member 21 ofthis invention or not.

The plate portion 23 of the mounting member 21 of this invention hasopposed slots 31 to permit the mounting member 21 to be substantiallypermanently attached to the supporting structure by threaded fasteningmembers passing through the slots 31 in a conventional manner and havingthe enlarged heads thereof abut the front face 25 of the mounting member21.

A plurality of fiat tangs 32 are integrally formed with the plate likemeans 23 of the mounting member 21 and project outwardly from the frontface 25 thereof, the tanks 32 being so constructed and arranged that thesame are adapted to be respectively received in recess means 33 formedat the four corners of the substantially rectangular switch construction22 in the manner illustrated in the perspective views of the drawings.

In particular, the switch construction 22 has the consides 34 and 35 andanother pair of opposed sides 36 and 37 in addition to the opposed rearand front faces thereof. However, the switch construction 22 also hassubstantially rectangular portions 38 and 39 extending outwardly fromthe opposed sides 36 and 37 thereof whereby the projections 38 and 39cooperate with sides 36 and 37 thereof to define the recess means 33receiving the tangs 32.

In this manner, it can be seen that when the rear face of the switchconstruction 22 is disposed against the front side 25 of the mountingmember 21, the tanks 32 are disposed against the -opposed sides 36 and37 of the switch construction 22 with the projections 38 and 39 of theswitch construction 22 projecting between adjacent pairs of the tangs 32whereby the tanks 32 prevent sidewise movement of the switchconstruction 22 relative to the mounting means 21 in any sidewisedirection.

The mounting member 21 pivotally carries a pair of spring means 40comprising resilient wire-like members each having opposed ends 41respectively pivotally mounted to a pair of tangs 32 of the mountingmember 21 by projecting inwardly through suitable openings 42 formed inthe tangs 32 in the manner illustrated in the drawings, the spring means40 being thus snap-fitted to the tangs 32.

Each spring means 40 has a pair of legs 43 provided with first portions44 disposed parallel to each other and upper or second portions 45converging toward each other and being respectively interconnectedtogether by a substantially U-shaped cross member 46 for a purposehereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the spring means 49 are adapted to movebetween the posit-ions illustrated in FIG URES 2 and to effectivelydetachably secure the electrical switch construction 22 to the mountingmeans 21 in a manner now to be described.

The top or outer face 47 of the electrical switch construction 22 isprovided with a pair of raised ridges 48 disposed spaced from a raisedcentral portion 49 thereof to define notch means 50 therebetween in theouter face 47 thereof for a purpose now to be described.

With the spring means 40 of the mounting member 21 disposed in the openposition as illustrated in FIGURE 2,

ventional pair of opposed the electrical switch construction 22 isdisposed against the face of the mounting member 21 in such a mannerthat the tangs 32 of the mounting member 21 are received in the recessmeans 33 of the switch construction 22 in the manner illustrated inFIGURES 5 and 6.

Thereafter, the spring means 40 are pivoted toward the switchconstruction 22 tocause the cross members 46 thereof to be cammed overthe ridge means 43 of the switch construction 22 and be sna-pfitted intothe recess means 50 thereof whereby the spring means 40 effectivelydetachably secure the switch construction 22 to the mounting means 21through the resiliency of the spring means 40. In this manner, theswitch construction 22 is fixedly secured to the mounting member 21 butcan be readily detached therefrom by forcing the spring means 40outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to release the switchconstruction 22.

When the spring means 40 are being utilized to secure the switchconstruction 22 to the mounting means 21 in the above manner, it can beseen that the first portions 44 of the legs 43 of each spring means 40are disposed along the opposed sides 36 and 37 of the switchconstruction 22 while the second portions 45 thereof are respectivelydisposed against either the side 34 or the side of the switchconstruction 22 with the cross member 46 thereof being disposed over theouter face 47 of the switch construction 22.

In this manner, it can be seen that the spring means are substantiallywrapped around the switch construction 22 to assist the tangs 3-2 infirmly holding the switch construction 22 to the mounting means 21 by asnap-fit relationship therewith.

If desired, the spring means 40 of this invention can be so constructedand arranged that the same can be substantially U-shaped and stillperform the snap-fitting function of this invention without wrappingaround any of the sides of the switch construction.

In particular, another combination of this invention is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 51 in FIGURES 10 and 12 and partsthereof similar to the combination 20 previously described are indicatedby like reference numerals.

As illustrated in FIGURES 10-12, the mounting means 21 of thecombination 51 is substantially the same as previously described exceptthat the spring means 52 therefor are substantially U-shaped as definedby parallel legs 53 respectively snap-fitted in the openings 42 in thetangs 32 and interconnected to a straight cross member 54.

The switch construction 22 of the combination 51 is substantially thesame as the switch construction 22 previously described and is adaptedto nest against the side 25 of the mounting means 21 in such a mannerthat the tangs 32 thereof project into the recesses 33 of the switchconstruction 22 to prevent sidewise movement thereof relative to themounting means 21.

However, when the spring means 52 are disposed over the outer face 47 ofthe switch construction 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 12, thecross members 54 thereof are adapted to be snapped over the ridges 48 ofthe switch construction 22 and be received in the recesses 50 thereof tosnap-fittingly secure the switch construction 22 to the mounting member21.

Thus, it can be seen that various modifications may be made in thespring means of the mounting member of this invention while the springmeans still performs the function of this invention as set forth in theappended claims.

Accordingly, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide animproved combination of a switch mounting means and a switchconstruction, but also this invention provides an improved mountingmeans for such a combination or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claimed'subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, 'a switch mounting member having spring meanspivotally mounted to said mounting member, and a switch constructiondisposed against said mounting member, said spring means being pivotedand snap-fitted over said switch construction to hold such switchconstruction to said mounting member, said mounting member havingoutwardly directed tangs, said switch construction having recessesprovided therein and respectively receiving said tangs whereby sidewisemovement of said switch construction relative to said mounting member isprevented by said tangs.

2. 'In combination, a switch mounting member having pivotally mountedspring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having theopposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and aswitch construction disposed against said mounting member, said springmeans each having an intermediate portion thereof snap-fitted over saidswitch construction to hold said switch construction to said mountingmember.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switchconstruction has notch means respectively receiving said intermediateportions of said spring means.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting memberhas outwardly directed tangs and wherein said switch construction hasrecesses provided therein to respectively receive said tangs wherebysidewise movement of said switch construction relative to said mountingmember is prevented by said tangs.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said opposed ends ofeach spring means are pivotally mounted to a respective pair of saidtangs.

6. In combination, a switch mounting member having pivotally mountedspring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire having theopposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and asubstantially rectangular switch construction disposed against saidmounting member, said spring means each having a pair of legs disposedagainst opposed sides of said switch construction and having a crossmember interconnecting said legs together and being snap-fitted over theouter face of said switch construction.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein each spring means issubstantially U-shaped.

8. In combination, a switch mounting member having pivotally mountedspring means, each spring means comprising a length of wire havingopposed ends thereof pivotally mounted to said mounting member, and asubstantially rectangular switch construction disposed against saidmounting member, said spring means each having a pair of legs providedwith first portions disposed along opposed sides of said switchconstruction and with second portions disposed along another side ofsaid switch construction and having a cross member interconnecting saidlegs together and being snap-fitted over the outer face of said switchconstruction.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second portions ofsaid legs of each spring means converge toward each other as they extendtoward said cross member thereof.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cross member ofeach spring means is substantially U- shaped.

11. A switch mounting member having spring means pivotally mounted tosaid mounting member, said spring means being adapted to be pivoted andsnap-fitted over a switch construction disposed against said mountingmember to hold said switch construction to said mounting member, saidmounting member having outwardly directed tangs to be respectivelyreceived in recesses provided in said switch construction to preventsidewise movement of said switch construction relative to said mountingmember.

12. A switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, eachspring means comprising a length of wire having the opposed ends thereofpivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means each havingan intermediate portion thereof adapted to be snap-fitted over a switchconstruction disposed against said mounting member to hold said switchconstruction to said mounting member.

13. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidmounting member has outwardly directed tangs to be respectively receivedin recesses provided in said switch construction to prevent sidewisemovement of said switch construction relative to said mounting member.

14. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 13 wherein saidopposed ends of each spring means are pivotally mounted to a respectivepair of said tangs.

15. A switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, eachspring means comprising a length of wirev having opposed ends thereofpivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means each havinga pair of legs adapted to be disposed against opposed sides of a switchconstruction disposed against said mounting member and having a crossmember interconnecting said legs together and being adapted to be snapfitted over the outer face of said switch construction.

16. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 15 wherein eachspring means is substantially U-shaped.

17. A switch mounting member having pivotally mounted spring means, eachspring means comprising a length of wire having opposed ends thereofpivotally mounted to said mounting member, said spring means each havinga pair of legs provided with first portions adapted to be disposed alongopposed sides of a switch construction disposed against said mountingmember and with second portions disposed along another side of saidswitch construction and having a cross member interconnecting said legstogether and being adapted to be snap-fitted over the outer face of saidswitch construction.

18. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 17 wherein saidsecond portion of said legs of each spring means converge toward eachother as they extend toward said cross member thereof.

19. A switch mounting member as set forth in claim 17 wherein said crossmember of each spring means is substantially U-shaped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT K.SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. K. H. CLAFFY, H. O. JONES, AssistantExaminers.

11. A SWITCH MOUNTING MEMBER HAVING SPRING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TOSAID MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED ANDSNAP-FITTED OVER A SWITCH CONSTRUCTION DISPOSED AGAINST SAID MOUNTINGMEMBER TO HOLD SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, SAIDMOUNTING MEMBER HAVING OUTWARDLY DIRECTED TANGS TO BE RESPECTIVELYRECEIVED IN RECESSES PROVIDED IN SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION TO PREVENTSIDEWISE MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH CONSTRUCTION RELATIVE TO SAID MOUNTINGMEMBER.